Results tagged “nature”

Green Drinks gets computer savvy this month with a focus on greening computer usage and IT. Rebecca Thorburn, a member of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, will be on hand to discuss the non-profit organization's dedication to promoting climate conservation through the widespread deployment of energy efficient hardware and power management software.

Image credit: Nature abhors a vacuum

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But what if attitudes and religious memeplexes aren’t changing because adapting to social pressure is necessary? What if the new millenarianism, instead of crashing computers, will be a fight to the death with a Frankenstein version of Mother Nature? What if environmentalism is becoming the new faith? What if responsible consumerism is the new moral ethic? What if recycling, dear Green God, is the new ritual of absolution?

José González In Our Nature (Mute) Last year, González talked to us about the never-ending tour schedule, the slow process of songwriting, and how his next record --well, this record-- would focus on the guitar. His first full-length, Veneer, wooed us back in 2003, and though Gonzalez has been touring fairly relentlessly in support of it, he has found time to put together this work, a ten song album that sounds quite similar to...

Either something's gone wonky with the Doppler Radar, or Mother Nature's feeling awfully gloomy: Austin's extended forecast indicates that we'll be dealing with hot, stormy weather through the July 4th holiday. Last night's thunderstorms, which delivered an estimated 18 inches of rain, flooded parts of Williamson, Lampasas, and Burnet counties, leaving many folks stranded on cars, roofs, and trees. Emergency rescue crews were forced to make their way by land, air, and, in several cases,...

You really are lucky to live in Austin, a metropolis with almost 17,000 acres of land dedicated to parks, recreation and preservation. A city that takes pride in its parks and all of the outdoor activites they lend themselves to, Austinites certainly values their greenspace and quality of life. These parks are used regularly for outdoor concerts, exercising, commuting or leash-free dog recreation and you've certainly taken advantage of them at some point. It...

Boutiques are opening, changing or moving everywhere you look around Austin. We found these when we hit the streets this week: Guys into New York’s streetwear look will love Complete Clothing. The men’s boutique carries limited-edition and independent lines geared to people in their 20s, says owner Zaul Zamora. Look around and you’ll find Crayola-colored hoodies, patent-leather sneakers (easier to clean but crease, Zamora says) and graphics-heavy T-shirts from Los Angeles, New York, London...

We'll update this post as things develop. 11am - Tuesday, January 16th Governor Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are sworn in indoors, under the inaugural theme, "Texas: Imagine the Possibilities." The requisite downtown parade has been canceled because, well, there's no one there. Firewood vendors are making a killing CapMetro: UT Shuttles, AISD Magnet Routes, 'Dillo routes are closed The Travis County Commissioners Court meeting has been postponed As of 9:30am, approximately 570...

If you didn't already have the day off of work or school courtesy Martin Luther King, Jr, you probably do now courtesy Mother Nature (or the rapture, your choice). Even the MLK parade is canceled! Austin roads are wet and slippery, the temperatures are dropping, and everything is going to get worse before it gets better. If you absolutely can't stay home today, please take a minute and familiarize yourself with the Emergency Conditions...

I’m not so sure I’m ready to do it. To jump right in with both feet and put down those kind of roots. To make pretend that I have a single clue as to where the end-point, end-game, end-whatever may be. Why do people do this to themselves? More importantly, why am I considering it?

The 21st Annual Lake Travis Parks Cleanup is this Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to noon. Last year, the event drew more than 400 volunteers who were able to clean up over 4,500 pounds of garbage. All linterested volunteers are welcome, and will be invited to a thank-you party following the event, which will have free t-shirts, food, and entertainment. This year's event is part of the Texas Department of Transportation's Don't Mess with...

It’s summer, it’s hot. No one is in a good mood. Then, on the horizon, it shows its beautiful ears. It’s double sweet corn at Central Market. Buy it now, while you still can. A tip: soak it in its own husk for about an hour before grilling to infuse it with a grassy flavor on top of its already sweet brilliance. If a nerdy love for delicious vegetables replacing nights of debauchery is...

Yes kiddies, it's time once again for the annual Eeyore's Birthday Party. What Lloyd Birdwell started as a small picnic for students at the University of Texas has today swelled to a major annual festival with live bands; food vendors; adult beverages; games and whatnot, such as egg tossing and costume contests. This fictional birthday party for our favorite depressed donkey is not about recreational drug use or the "hippie" subculture, it's about the community coming together and experiencing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dark time…that and a bunch of "hippies" spacing out in the park.

D’oh! Just when we were trying to figure out when we might be able to sneak in one last weekend of camping before the mercury rises to unbearable levels, not only has the mercury already risen to unbearable levels, but also the dang blasted burn ban has been implemented yet again as of today. Apparently, the recent hot temperatures and dry air have evaporated the moisture that allowed the ban to be lifted last month.

Treehugger.com is a fast-growing web magazine dedicated to "everything that has a modern aesthetic yet is environmentally responsible," according to the site. Currently on the site they are running a survey, asking readers what they think about the enviro-friendliness of towns around the country. The survey started with Portland, and this week, it's our turn, Austin. Treehugger wants you to send them feedback on a variety of green-related issues: What is the general level...

FRIDAY [14] [music] The Arm CD Release, with Single Frame, Faceless Werewolves and Lomita at Emo's (link) [music] Sound Tribe Sector Nine with Govinda at Stubb's Austin (link) [music] Matt Nathanson at Waterloo Records (Free, 5pm) (link) [music] Til We're Blue or Destroy at Beerland (link) [music] The Weary Boys Release Show at Continental Club (12:15am) (link) [party] Car Stereo (Wars) at Plush (10pm-2am, $2 Lone Stars) (link) [music] Loxsly and The Lemurs at Blue...

Austin Earth Month continues this weekend with Austin Nature Day, a "celebration of the beauty, vitality, and diversity of natural resources that contribute to our high quality of life." All around town tomorrow, over twenty local eco-conscious and/or cultural organizations have set up various events -- and, holy crap, there's a lot going on! Some of the events that we think you outta check out include the Xeriscape Garden Tour (Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 3:30pm-4pm), Westside...

• Scientists assigned a new genus to this creature they recently discovered in the ocean. We're thinking it would taste good with some garlic butter. ***Don't be fooled, a tabloid posting says that some NASA Scientists are calling it an alien life form.
• Tragically, 5 UT students were killed in a car accident this weekend on their way to a medical school convention in St. Louis. None of them were wearing their seat belts.
• A woman was attacked and sexually assaulted and left with serious injuries in the Bull Creek Greenbelt.
• Freescale announced that it is dropping its sponsorship of the Freescale Marathon. It will, of course, continue to be an important running event, but it will now be known as the Austin Marathon with several different corporate sponsors.
• The death of Milosevic has brought on a critical eye to the hotel jail in which Mr. Milosevic spent his final years. Though tests show that he died of a heart-attack, a foreign drug has been found in his body leading to speculations of poisoning.
• American's debate over abortion is getting hotter.
  
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DCist helps us make more sense of the world this week. Posts like this concert review are the reason for Scott Stapp. DCist also enumerates the reasons for playing ultimate frisbee, Condi's tight buns, their love of a local convenience store, and their jealousy of a person in Seattle calling the city. LAist documented graf artist Banksy's most recent visit to LA in one two three posts. They also found the best possible use...

Do you ever “forget” to pick up the little “presents” your dog deposits while you walk him along the Shoal Creek Greenbelt? Have you been known to lose sleep worrying that karmic justice will someday cause you to fall face-first into a steaming heap of someone else’s dog’s poop because of your own misdeeds? Well, stop worrying, grab your gardening gloves, and come redeem yourself this Saturday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The...

SXSW.com released an updated lineup for this year's SXSW Music Festival earlier today, and it's one hell of a list. The SXSW committee hastens to note that "This is a partial list of performers confirmed to appear at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival. This list is current as of 1/13/06. All of this information is subject to change." International acts include: Masahiro Nitta, DMBQ, Ellegarden, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, PE'Z, The Emeralds (Japan)...

Austin's Public Information Office yesterday released details of the city's holiday schedules, reiterated below: City administrative offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, and Monday, Dec. 26 for the Christmas holiday and Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, for New Year’s. Pay-As-You-Throw customers will receive services as normal for garbage, recycling and yard trimming collection. The Household Hazardous Waste Facility will be closed the week of Dec. 26. Normal schedule will resume on Tuesday, Jan....

Students from the Sri Atmananda Memorial School are spending a year trying to determine what is in the water in Waller Creek, which runs through their private campus in Hyde Park. This endeavor is a funded by a $10,000 grant from Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. Not only does this project provide the students a practical lesson about science in general, it also provides a valuable data set for water quality in the creek.

Sunday night it's time for the Annual Zilker Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Go and do your twirl beneath the lights, and be sure to bring your toy donation (for kids 12 and under) for Operation Blue Santa. Hopefully the weather will still be nice and cool. This is one of our favorite local holiday traditions, and it's free!

Northwest Austin's Bull Creek Park is a, idyllic, quiet refuge replete with ancient trees, a bubbling brook and a nearby hiking trail that winds lazily through the hillside. On Saturday mornings we like to take our dog there for a dip in the water. It's a nice spot to reflect quietly on the week's insanities. And, evidently, it's also a great place for wild group orgies. Yesterday Austin police arrested 16 people after an...

Nelson Mandela. The Dalai Lama. Mother Theresa. Mother Nature? Scuttlebutt around the internet and news services is that Mother Nature will be named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. After a year of tsunamis, earthquakes and a record-breaking hurricane season, editors at Time seem prepared to name Mother Nature the POY. Some sites are even placing odds on who/what will win. And, Time wants to hear from you on whom you think it should...

We were on our way to our neighborhood Taco Deli on Barton Skyway and Spyglass Drive, thinking about our weekly Puerco Borracho plate, when we were greeted by the sight of a dozen police cruisers parked haphazardly at the T-intersection. We thought it was a normal traffic accident until we noticed that the cops were putting on camouflage gear. Evidently there's a crazy man with a shotgun prowling the Greenbelt! With paramedics and firefighters on hand, Austin's finest ventured into the hike and bike trail in search of the armed lunatic. We didn't stay to watch the spectacle unfold - we needed to walk our dog, and we're also somewhat put off by being shot at - but as we pulled out of the parking lot we passed an armored assault minitank, sirens blaring. Ahhh, Austin. UPDATE: The Statesman is now reporting that two gunshots were heard around 2pm, and that shortly thereafter "a man was brought on a stretcher from the greenbelt and loaded onto an ambulance."

Arumabh Das, who works at nearby Tacodeli, said that earlier today a woman was standing outside calling police from her cell phone to report that she was being chased by a man with a shotgun. Das said he heard the woman describing him as a fit white man. Officials said the man who was shot was white. Das said police arrived moments later and that the number of officers has increased for the past several hours. Witnesses also said the department's SWAT team arrived at the scene shortly after noon.
Elizabeth Patlan, who works at American Cleaners at Barton Skyway and Spyglass Drive, said she heard two pops that sounded like gunfire around 2 p.m.

Run through a pumpkin patch lately? Neither have we, but dammit if we don't have the urge. We grew up in the midwest and come late September we could count on crisp fall weather and leaves changing to vibrant colors. Autumn has always been our favorite season but here in Austin it just never seems to get there. Is it strange to get giddy over the possiblity of wearing our scarf?

This is a post by our new contributor, Ami.